By By Paul Keane
Publisher
The Atmore YMCA is launching a Capital Campaign to purchase land and build a new building, it was announced during Tuesday night's Christmas Party for the organization.
"We are now in the process of looking for land to build a new YMCA," said Executive Director Terri Godwin. "And since everyone has been asking already, yes, it will have a pool. We hope to have the new facility in place in the next two to three years."
Godwin and members of the YMCA Board all said that the use of the Atmore Lions Community Center has been a solid arrangement, but the YMCA has simply outgrown the facility.
Currently, the local YMCA has 1,586 members and offers numerous programs and activities, including child care, basketball, soccer, 4-year-old T-Ball, karate, aerobics, adult sports, an annual 5K run and other events.
Plans for the new facility call for a 24,000 square foot facility, meaning at least 10 acres of land will be needed in order to accomodate the building and parking.
Plans call for a fitness center with an indoor walking track, racquetball courts, an indoor swimming pool, a teen room and other facilities.
New President Deborah Hammons said negotiations are going on now to obtain land for the project, and that the Capital Campaign will help finance the overall project.
"We need 10-plus acres," Hammons said. "We're in negotiations on some sites right now. Of course, if there is anyone that would like to donate some land, we would certainly be receptive to that. It would be a tax-deductible donation."
A Power Point presentation on the new facility, which includes floor plans and design work, is available to be shown for civic organizations, businesses and church groups. To schedule a viewing of that presentation, contact Godwin at 368-9622.